Part I (1852): Chapters 6 - 11 Summary

This section opens with a description of Mawu's life on Tip's plantation. Tip's wife had died years ago, and it was generally agreed among the slaves that he got meaner with each passing year. Tip didn't believe in hiring an overseer, which meant he did all the monitoring and beating of slaves himself, and he seemed to relish it. He had forcefully taken Mawu many times, and she had birthed four of his children, three of which were sold from under her. The only child she has left is a four-year-old boy with lazy eyes due to a fall. Mawu used whatever arguments she could to convince the other woman to runaway to freedom with her. Mawu has tried many superstitious conjuring and potions to keep Tip away from her, but none have worked. She is desperate...